QT_Host_Is_Fierce_C183
by MarineTLChapter 183: The Successor Wife – 5
The one adult and two children were chatting so enthusiastically that no one even noticed him enter. Qiao Ce cleared his throat, and only then did Qiao Jiaojiao spot him. She beamed and shouted, “Daddy, you’re back! If you’re tired, go and get some rest. We’re sleeping with Mother tonight!”
Qiao Wuenci followed up with a solemn nod, his expression clearly saying: You’d better agree, or we’re going to make a scene!
Ren Xin sized up the supposedly powerful and influential Lord Duke. Although he was an older man, he was still quite a beauty.
Book Spirit Number One: “Shouldn’t a man be described as ‘stately and imposing’?”
“In this Ginseng’s presence, there is no ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t.’ Even if I said he was ‘well-endowed with wealth and stature,’ he’d just have to sit there and take it.”
Book Spirit Number One curled its lip. This big, silly Ginseng was only capable of acting tough with it!
The wedding attendant in the room was still holding the nuptial wine1, waiting for the next part of the ceremony. She had never seen such a bold bride; not only had the stepson been the one to lift the veil, but the bride had also enthusiastically invited the children to eat the dried fruits off the wedding bed.
Fortunately, the Lord Duke had returned.
Qiao Ce didn’t show the slightest hint of anger. He sat down by the bedside, pulled his daughter into his arms, and asked patiently, “What were you all talking about?”
Qiao Jiaojiao said excitedly, “Mother was telling us a story about a monkey2 who went through many trials and defeated lots of demons.”
Ren Xin looked proud. “I’m quite the storyteller.”
Qiao Ce gave a soft chuckle. “Is that so? Then have you forgotten what day it is today?”
Ren Xin blurted out, “The day we become sworn siblings!”
Qiao Ce: “…”
Qiao Wuenci hurried to correct her. “Mother, that’s not right. Today is the day you and Father got married. My wet nurse said that from now on, I’ll have to earn my living under your thumb.”
Qiao Ce’s expression turned cold. He scanned the room but didn’t see his son’s wet nurse anywhere. This person was truly ignorant of the rules. Seeing this, a nearby servant immediately bowed and retreated.
Ren Xin didn’t care in the slightest. “Well, she’s right about one thing. From now on, we all have to earn our living under each other’s thumbs, so we must love and cherish one another. That’s the only way to live a good life!”
No matter how precocious Qiao Wuenci was, he was still just a four-year-old Little Bean Sprout. Completely hoodwinked by her logic, he nodded in agreement with Ren Xin’s statement.
Qiao Jiaojiao wriggled out of her father’s arms and leaped into Ren Xin’s embrace, wanting to be treated equally. “What about me? I want us to love and cherish each other too!”
Ren Xin pretended to think it over. “Alright then, I suppose we can manage to love and cherish each other.”
Qiao Ce smiled but said nothing. Qiao Jiaojiao was a filial child; she pointed at Qiao Ce and said to Ren Xin, “Mother, you have to love and cherish Father too. Our whole family will love and cherish each other.”
Ren Xin nodded without a hint of bashfulness. “You’re right. After all, we’re all so likable!”
The servant who had left earlier returned and nodded to Qiao Ce. Only then did Qiao Ce stand up and say, “I’ve had the kitchen prepare a banquet. I have some matters to attend to in the study, so take the children and eat something to tide you over first.”
A banquet?
What a thoughtful old man. She promised she would be gentle with him later.
Since it was getting late, Qiao Ce had the kitchen serve some light dishes. Ren Xin looked at the food with disdain and asked the two children, “Your Duke of Zhen Estate isn’t very wealthy, is it?”
The two children had never considered this question before, so they fell into deep thought. It seemed that every night, they didn’t eat very lavishly. Was their family actually poor?
Ren Xin sighed. As expected, these great noble houses were just “gold and jade on the outside, but rotten on the inside3.”
“Fortunately, I have my dowry money. It’s more than enough to raise you two. As for your father, let him fend for himself!”
Qiao Wuenci sighed along with her. “No wonder Father never takes any concubines. It turns out our family is just poor! I must study hard and earn official rank so I can make money for the family.”
Qiao Jiaojiao also balled her hands into tiny fists. “I’ll study embroidery hard too, to help increase the family income!”
Translator’s Notes
- nuptial wine: Refers to the ‘Hejin’ (合卺) ritual where the bride and groom drink from two halves of a single gourd or two cups tied together with a red thread, symbolizing their union. ↩
- story about a monkey: A reference to Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) from the classic Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West’. ↩
- gold and jade on the outside, but rotten on the inside: The idiom ‘金玉其外，败絮其中’ (lit. ‘gold and jade on the exterior, rotten cotton on the interior’) describes something that looks impressive superficially but is actually hollow or corrupt. ↩
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